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Miniature circuit breaker Ap rcui n iat

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Application guide t2io0 ak
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Introduction Breaker definition

The circuit breaker plays an important role in providing over-current A breaker is a device designed to isolate a circuit during an overcurrent
protection and a disconnect means in electrical networks. Recent event without the use of a fusible element. A breaker is a resettable
advancements in circuit breaker technology has increased breaker protective device that protects against two types of overcurrent
performance and protection. situations; Overload and Short Circuit.

Overload
A slow and small overcurrent situation that causes the ampacity and
temperature of the circuit to gradually increase over time. This type of ABB current limiting breaker
event is characterized by a slight increase in the load (ampacity) on the
circuit and is interrupted by the thermal trip unit of the breaker.
Tripping lever Electro-magnetic protection
Upper
Thermal Example terminal

15A Thermal
10A protection-
bimetal
Operating
mechanism

Breaker
Light

The light draws more than 10 amps for

an extended period of time creating a Operator
thermal overload.

Short circuit
A rapid and intense overcurrent situation that causes the ampacity of
the circuit to increase. This type of event is characterized by a dramatic
increase in the load (ampacity) on the circuit and is interrupted by the
Arc
magnetic trip unit of the breaker. chamber
15
Magnetic Example

10A Fixed
10A contact
Space for
identification
marker
Moving
contact
Breaker
Light

The wire connected between the light and Lower terminal DIN rail holder
breaker is cut and shorted to ground
creating a short circuit.

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Circuit breaker construction
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Thermal / Magnetic trip units definition Magnetic trip units (short circuit protection)
ABB Current Limiting Breakers use an electromechanical (Thermal / The Magnetic trip unit protects against a short circuit. The magnetic trip
Magnetic) trip unit to open the breaker contacts during a overcurrent unit is comprised of an electromagnet and an armature.
event. The thermal trip unit is temperature sensitive and the magnetic trip
unit is current sensitive. Both units act independently and mechanically Armature and Plunger
with the breaker’s trip mechanism to open the breaker’s contacts.
Movable Contact Magnet Trip Unit

Current Flow During Operation

Magnetic Trip Unit Thermal Trip Unit

All highlighted components are energized during operation

Overload protection
The thermal trip unit protects against a continuous overload. The thermal
unit is comprised of a bimetal element located behind the circuit breaker
trip bar and is part of the breaker’s current carrying path. When there is
an overload, the increased current flow heats the bimetal causing it to
bend. As the bimetal bends it pulls the trip bar which opens the breaker’s
contacts.
Components of a magnetic trip unit
When there is a short circuit, a high magnitude of current passes through
the coils creating a magnetic field that attracts the movable armature
towards the fixed armature. The hammer trip is pushed against the
movable contact and the contacts are opened. The opening of the
breakers contacts during a short circuit is complete in .5 milli-seconds.

The time required for the bimetal to bend and trip the breaker varies
inversely with the current. Because of this, the tripping time becomes
quicker as current increases in magnitude.
15
Overload protection is applicable to any installation, conductor, or
component which can be subjected to low-magnitude but long-time over-
currents. Low-magnitude, long-time over-currents can be dangerous
because they reduce the life of the electrical installation, conductor, and
components and if left unchecked could result in fire.

Trip Bar

Operating Mechanism Thermal Trip Unit

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Circuit breaker construction
Arc runners / Arc chutes
The arc runner and arc chute limit and dissipate the arc energy during the
interruption of an overload or short circuit event.
During an overload or short circuit event, the contacts of the breaker
separate and an electrical arc is formed between the contacts through air.
The arc is moved into the arch chute by “running” the arc down the interior
of the breaker along the arc runner. When the arc reaches the arc chute
it is broken into small segmented arcs. The segmented arcs split the
overall energy level into segments less than 25V. Each 25V segment does
not have a high enough energy level to maintain an arc and all energy is
naturally dissipated.
Arc Runner Arc Chute
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Breaker curves
Thermal Trip Unit (region one)
The first sloping region of the breaker curve is a graphical representation
of the tripping characteristics of the thermal trip unit. This portion of the
curve is sloped due to the nature of the thermal trip unit. The trip unit
bends to trip the breaker’s trip bar in conjunction with a rise in amperage
(temperature) over time. As the current on the circuit increases, the
temperature rises, the faster the thermal element will trip.
Example using the curve below: If you had a 10A breaker and the circuit
was producing 30 amps of current, the breaker would trip between 2
seconds and 1 minute. In this example you would find the circuit current
on the bottom of the graph (Multiples of rated current). The first line is 10
amps (10 amp breaker x a multiple of one), the second line is 20 amps
(10 amp breaker x multiple of 2), and the third line is 30 amps (10amp
breaker x multiple of 3). Next you would trace the vertical 30A line up until
it intersects the red portion of the breaker thermal curve. If you follow the
horizontal lines, on both sides of the red curve, to the left you will see that
the breaker can trip as fast as 2 seconds and no slower than 1 minute.
Magnetic Trip Unit (region two)
This region of the breaker curve is the instantaneous trip unit. ABB’s
miniature circuit breaker’s instantaneous trip unit interrupts a short circuit
in 2.3 to 2.5 milliseconds. Because of this the curve has no slope and is
graphically represented as a vertical straight line.
Example using the curve above: If you had a 10 amp breaker the magnetic
trip element would interrupt a short circuit between 10 and 30 amps (10
amp breaker x multiple of 2 and 3) in 2.3 to 2.5 milliseconds.
Breaker Contacts (region three)
This region of the curve is the time required for the contacts of the breaker
to begin to separate. The contacts will open in less than .5 milliseconds
and is graphically represented by the bottom vertical portion of the curve.
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Thermal Trip Unit
(Region One)
Magnetic Trip Unit
(Region Two)
Moving Contacts
(Region Three)
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Circuit breaker current limitation
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Current limiting definitions
All ABB Miniature Circuit Breakers are UL tested and certified as current
limiting protective devices. Current limiting circuit breakers provide a
higher level of circuit protection than a typical zero point external breakers.
UL AC 60Hz cycle
UL defines an AC cycle as the potential energy of the wave form traveling
from Zero-to-Positive amplitude, Positive-to-Zero amplitude, Zero-to-
Negative amplitude, Negative-to-Zero amplitude 60 times in one second.
One cycle is completed every 16.6 milliseconds.
UL breaker current limiting
UL defines breaker current limitation as a breaker that interrupts and
isolates a fault in less than 1/2 of an AC cycle. 1/2 a cycle is completed in
8.3 milliseconds.
NEC240.2 current limiting
A device that, when interrupting current in its current-limiting range,
reduces the current flowing in the faulted circuit to a magnitude
substantially less than that obtainable in the same circuit if the device were
replaced with a solid conductor having comparable impedance.
IEC 60947-2 current limiting circuit breaker
A circuit breaker with sufficiently short trip time to prevent the short-circuit
current from reaching the peak value which would otherwise be reached.
ABB current limiting breakers
ABB current limiting breakers can interrupt and isolate a fault in 1/8 of
an AC cycle. The breaker fault interruption is completed in 2.3 to 2.5
milliseconds.
Zero point extinguishing breakers
A typical zero point extinguishing breaker interrupts a fault and does not
isolate the energy. The breaker allows an arc to be present between the
open contacts until the AC wave form crosses zero. When the wave
form crosses zero, the potential energy is zero and the arc (fault) naturally
extinguishes. The arc could be present for up to 8.3 milliseconds.
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Current limiting breakers and electrical networks
Current Limitation
When a short-circuit condition occurs, the “ideal” current limiting circuit
breaker opens before the current waveform can reach its full potential
magnitude which occurs at ¼ cycle (4.17ms). ABB’s current limiting
breakers can interrupt a fault in about ½ cycle or 2.3ms to 2.5ms.
ABB’s current limiting breakers interrupt a short circuit in less than 1/8
cycle and limit the amount of current that can reach a circuit. Limiting
the available current on the circuit provides additional protection against
network, breaker, or bus damage and prevents the tripping of upstream
breakers (selective coordination).
IsqT
The true destructive nature of a short circuit is measured by the time
it is available combined with the peak value of the short circuit. The
IsqT (Amps Squared over Time) value represents the amount of energy
available on a network during a short circuit and is represented by the
shaded area on the graph below.
During a short circuit both magnetic forces and thermal energy combine
to damage devices on the electrical network. The level of thermal energy
and magnetic forces are directly proportional to the square of the current.
The magnetic forces vary as a square of the peak current available and the
thermal energy varies as a square of the RMS (root mean square) current
available. ABB’s current limiting breakers will limit the let-through energy
to a fraction (1/100th) of the value which is available from the network. By
comparison, a Zero Crossing breaker would let-through approximately 100
times as much destructive energy as the current limiting circuit breaker
[ (100,000A / 10,000A) squared – 100X].
ABB’s current limiting breakers limit the short circuit current to a relatively
small magnitude in a extremely short time, which dramatically limits a short
circuit’s destructive energy.
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Current limiting and zero crossing breakers Zero crossing example

During the initial stages of a short circuit a breaker’s contacts open to The test report below details a 20A Zero Point Extinguishing breaker
interrupt the circuit. After the contacts open an arc forms in the air interrupting a 9kA fault in 9 milliseconds. The total "I Square T" value is
between the contacts on both the current limiting and zero crossing 104.0kA.
breaker contacts. What distinguishes a current limiting breaker from a
zero crossing breaker is what each breaker does after an arc is formed
500 10
between the open contacts. V kA

A current limiting breaker “runs” the arc down the breaker arc runner into 400 8
an arc chute that extinguishes the arc.

A zero crossing breaker does not attempt to extinguish the arc. The 300 6
breaker is designed to withstand the energy of the arc long enough for
the waveform to cross zero. When the wave form crosses zero the
potential energy is zero and the arc naturally extinguishes itself. 200 4

ABB’s current limiting breakers interrupt the arc energy in 2.3ms to 2.5ms
(1/8 cycle) and a zero crossing breaker allows the arc to be present for up 100 2

to 8.3ms (1/2 cycle). A zero crossing breaker will let through 100 times
as much energy as an ABB current limiting breaker. U-BCP L2 I-L2
100 /div 2 k/div

Current limiting example

The lab test report below details a 20A S200 series current limiting
-100 -2
breaker interrupting a 28kA fault in 1.7 milliseconds. The total “I Square
T” value is 32.0kA.
-200 -4

-300 -6 Legend
Voltage
-400 -8 Amps

-500 -10 Time A Time B

0 0.9999 1.9997 2.9996 3.9994 4.9993 5.9991 6.999
500 10 499.93 Sample/div kSample
V kA

400 8
15
300 6

200 4

100 2

U-L2 I-L2
100 /div 2 k/div

-100 -2

-200 -4

Legend
-300 -6
Voltage
Amps
-400 -8

-500 -10 Time A Time B

0 0.9999 1.9997 2.9996 3.9994 4.9993 5.9991 6.999
499.93 Sample/div kSample

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Selective coordination and series ratings
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IEC 60497-1 selective coordination definition Example of no breaker coordination

Coordination between the operating characteristics of two or more over-
current protection devices, so that when an over-current within established
limits occurs, the device designated to operate within those limits trips
whereas the other do not trip.
Main
breaker
Selective breaker coordination is not achieved when there is an overload
event at the branch breaker level (MCB1) and both the branch breaker
and main breaker interrupt the circuit (open). When there is no breaker
coordination several circuits lose power that should remain operational
during and after the overload event. The chart below gives a graphical
representation of a down stream branch breaker (B curve) and a main
breaker (A curve) without coordination. There is no separation between
the curves. The branch breaker will react to a fault and the main breaker
will open and de-energize all circuits down stream.

CB1 CB2 CB3 CB4

Short circuit

Example of breaker coordination

When an over-current event occurs at the branch breaker level (CB1), and
the event is within the operating characteristics of the breaker, then the
branch breaker should interrupt the circuit (open) and the main breaker
should remain closed and energized. The chart below gives a graphical
representation of a down stream branch breaker (B curve) and a main
breaker (A curve) with coordination. The separation between the curves
allows the branch breaker to react to the fault and the main breaker
remain closed and energized.
Problems in coordination occur when the branch breaker allows the "I
Square T" value of the short circuit to rise to a level that is in the operating
range of the up-stream main breaker. Proper breaker coordination is
easier to achieve with the use of current limiting breakers at the branch
level.

Selective coordination and current limiting breakers

15 Recent improvements in ABB circuit breaker technology has pushed the
performance of breakers to the same level as fuses. The reaction time
and tripping characteristics of current limiting breakers are now on par with
fuses. This allows ABB to provide a high level of coordination between
branch breakers and the main. A current limiting branch breaker will limit
the “I Square T” value well below the level of the operating range of the up-
stream main breaker.

ABB’s current limiting branch breakers can coordinate between the main
breaker up to 35kA.

Selective coordination and zero crossing breakers

Zero crossing breakers do not limit the “I Square T” value. They wait for
the wave form to cross zero and allow a high level of let-through energy
to pass through the system. The “I Square T” value of a zero crossing
breaker is high enough that the main breaker will likely trip during a short
circuit. With zero crossing breakers it is extremely difficult to coordinate
between branch and main breakers.

A typical zero crossing breaker’s coordination level is below 10kA. There

are a few manufactures that have achieved coordination between a
branch zero crossing breaker and the main by slowing the performance
(protection) of the main breaker.

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Series ratings –vs- selective coordination Series ratings

Selective coordination
Selective coordination is achieved when there is a short circuit on a branch
circuit breaker, the branch breaker opens and isolates the fault, and the
main breaker remains closed. The rating is usually a value above the
“stand alone” interrupting rating of the branch breaker and the “stand
alone” rating of the main breaker.
Example:
65kA rated main breaker
10kA rated branch breaker
Coordination between the two breakers up to 35kA
There can be a short circuit on the branch breaker up to 35kA where the
branch will open (CB1) and the main breaker will remain closed. Although
the branch has a 10kA “stand alone” rating both the breakers work
together to limit the available short circuit to allow the branch (CB1) to
isolate the fault.
Main
breaker
65 kA
Series ratings are different from coordination ratings. Unlike coordination
ratings where the branch opens and the main remains closed, a series
rated combination is one where both the branch and main breakers open
and work together to isolate the fault.
The series rating combination of two breakers is equal to the “stand alone”
interrupting value of the main breaker. This is a result of the main breaker
let-through value being lower than the “stand alone” interrupting value
of the branch breaker. During a short circuit the main breaker will limit
the energy to a level that is below the “stand alone” value of the branch
breaker.
Example:
65kA rated main breaker
10kA rated branch breaker
Series combination rating between the two breakers up to 65kA
There can be a short circuit on the branch breaker up to 65kA where the
branch will open and the main breaker will open. Although the branch
breaker (CB1) has a 10kA “stand alone” rating the main breaker has a let-
through value below 10kA. If there is a fault up to 65kA on the network
the main breaker will limit the energy to a value less than the rating of the
branch breaker (CB1). Both breakers will trip (no coordination) but the
network can safely withstand a fault of 65kA.

CB1 CB2 CB3 CB4

10 kA 10 kA 10 kA 10 kA

35 kA or 65 kA short circuit

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Miniature circuit breaker cutaway
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Tripping lever Electro-magnetic protection

Upper terminal

Thermal
protection-bimetal

Operating
mechanism

Operator

Arc chamber
15

Fixed contact
Space for
identification marker

Moving contact

Lower terminal DIN rail clip

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